As the title suggests, this is a collection of early fantasy stories selected primarily for their interest to Tolkien readers. Most of the stories in this volume either had an influence on Tolkien in creating Lord of the Rings, or use themes and motifs evident in his work. Other stories relate to events or experiences which were significant in Tolkien's life, such as the first World War. To round out the collection, several examples of American children's fantasy, such as L. F. Baum, have also been included. The majority of the stories here represented are rather difficult to find today. One of them, a short one-act play by David Lindsay, appears here in print for the first time. Each story is prefaced by a short introduction by the editor.

Original title: Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern FantasyOriginal languages:
English